A Century Strong! Members Turn Out for 2015 Centennial State Convention

Posted on: December 23, 2015 | Category: News Releases

December 23, 2015 – By #South Dakota Farmer Union

We are 100-years-old and have a lot to celebrate, said S.D. Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke of the organization’s Centennial State Convention where nearly 500 members turned out to celebrate and provide policy direction for the future, Dec. 9-10, 2015, in Huron.

“Celebrating 100 years is amazing, especially in this day and age when many organizations are struggling with membership numbers just trying to survive and we continue to thrive,” says Mary Ellen Cammack, a cow/calf producer from Sturgis, who ranches with her husband Randy and drove to Huron with her adult daughters, Shelby Cammack and Paige Komes, who remain actively involved in production agriculture, managing their own cattle herds on their family’s ranch and working as AI technicians.

The Cammacks are currently participating in the 2016 Farmers Union Enterprise Couples Leadership Program, which was developed to substantiate and empower future leaders for rural America and Farmers Union by providing training and hands-on experiences that enable couples to become knowledgeable leaders

During convention, Taylor Sumption, who along with his wife, Cassie, participated in the 2015 Farmers Union Enterprise Couples Leadership program visited with members about how he has put some of the skills he developed to use on his family’s Frederick farm. “It’s special for me to be able to attend this centennial convention. I think about the members who founded this organization and compare them to homesteaders. The contributions they made for family farmers and ranchers embodies that same mentality of doing a lot of work for the future with very little reward for themselves,” Sumption explains.

A second-generation Farmers Union member, Sumption’s parents, John and Margaret, were also in attendance. “Margaret and I have been involved for nearly 60 years. Farmers Union has a nice history. It’s hard to believe we are 100,” John Sumption says.

National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson, echoed members’ comments in his State of the State address. “South Dakota Farmers Union had the biggest membership increases of any state in the nation,” Johnson said of the more than 17,000 members who make up one of South Dakota’s largest agriculture organizations.

Standing room only

Many friends of Farmers Union turned out to hear convention keynote, Temple Grandin, speak. A professor of animal science at Colorado State University, best-selling author, autism activist and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior, drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 275.

“I took the day off school because I wanted to see Temple Grandin,” says Haleigh Elwood, 12, who hitchhiked to the convention with her grandparents, David and Brenda Reis, and two cousins; Buster, 12, and Swade Reis, 10.

High school student, Samantha Rogers, also skipped school to see Grandin.

“Temple Grandin made such big changes throughout the livestock industry and how people work with livestock; we were excited about this opportunity Farmers Union provided. In small town South Dakota, we don’t get to see someone with such a big name especially for free,” says Rogers, a ranch girl from Ree Heights and President of the Sunshine Bible Academy FFA Chapter.

Rogers attended Grandin’s speech along with other members of her FFA Chapter. Their FFA Advisor, Andrew Boersma, brought the students. “We have used some of Temple’s books as resources in our classroom. Many of my students are interested in working with livestock because they come from farm or ranch families and raise cattle or horses we couldn’t pass up this opportunity.” Laura Ries agreed.

She and her husband, Jason, left their six young sons in grandma’s care to attend convention.

“The convention has been interesting and I have learned a lot of new things. I really enjoyed hearing Temple speak,” says Laura Ries. Ries and her husband, Jason, farm near Watertown and became actively involved in Farmers Union three years ago after attending a Young Producer Event. Since that time, the couple, who operate a dairy and diversified beef cattle and crop farm together with Jason’s parents and brothers, have participated in a D.C. Fly-In and are working to serve as the new generation of leadership in Codington County Farmers Union.

“It’s exciting to see the next generation stepping up,” Sombke says.

“Although family commitments keep many young producers home from convention, the next generation is active and we are focused on providing them with the tools they need to become engaged leaders in their communities and our organization.” This convention brought out many multi-generational Farmers Union families.

As Gail (1983 Torchbearer) and Brad Temple watched their son, Jordyn Temple, receive the Torchbearer Award, they were joined by Gail’s parents, Lloyd and Dee Battest. Jordyn was among 11 South Dakota youth recognized. The other youth included: Kaden Kummer, Parkston; Jeana Nuss, Tripp; Dylan Hyronimus, Worthing; Shannon Meyer, Wilmot; Dowain Kerner, Gregory; Windsor Barry, Carter; Brandi Enright, Union Center; Jesse Carlson, Seneca; Courtney Edgar, Orient; and Tess Heidenreich, Faulkton.

During the Torchbearer ceremony, Ashton Reedy and Kiana Brockel were named as 2015-2016 Senior Advisory Council.

Like Temple, Lorrie Hanson has enjoyed watching his children reap the benefits of Farmers Union Youth Programming. A 1996 Torchbearer, Lorrie and his son, Jason (2014 Torchbearer) were among the four members elected to serve as delegates to the 2016 National Farmers Union Convention which will be held in Minneapolis March 5-8, 2016. “I’m looking forward to this opportunity to go through policy during the national convention and help make good decisions for the future of family farmers and ranchers,” Lorrie Hanson said.

Looking back on his Farmers Union experiences, the 38-year-old father of five recalls, “I couldn’t wait for camp. I developed friendships I still have today; plus, as I got more involved and served on the Junior Advisory Council, I gained valuable leadership skills which have served me well as an adult and single dad.” Today, Hanson’s children are among the more than 3,000 South Dakota youth who participate in South Dakota Farmers Union camp and educational programming each year.

Members have a voice

Members actively participated in policy discussions led by County Couselors.

During the 2015 convention, Education, Ethanol, CHS & Land Ownership topped the list.

“The discussion was very good. Policy is something our members need to stay on top of by coming to convention, we’re able to do this,” says Sandee Gittings, County Counselor from Philip. “Just look at what we accomplished from last year’s policy we got the Redistricting Committee on the ballot.”

As a grassroots organization, policy voted on during convention drives the direction of the organization. It impacts events during the year which many may not even hear about, explained Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director.

During the year in review, Hofhenke pointed to the many headlines Farmers Union staff and members prevented from occurring including: Approved CHS By-law Change Eliminates the Co-op Model; Congress Approves $3 Billion in Crop Insurance Cuts; Refusal to Pass Positive Train Control Extension Leads to Massive Delays, Costing Producers Millions; Producers Forced to Stick with Original Property Determinations under ARC and PLC Programs.

“Not everything Farmers Union does makes the headlines. Sometimes it is what doesn’t make the headlines that also makes a big impact on our family farms and ranches,” Hofhenke says. Policy discussion wrapped up with the election of National Convention delegates, Vice President of the Board of Directors, three Board of Directors and the Presidential election.

District 5 member, Tammy Basel, announced her run for National Farmers Union Vice President. Delegates will vote during the NFU convention March 2016 in Minneapolis.

The Vice President position and three Board of Directors were not contested.

The National Convention Delegates elected were Lorrie Hanson, Britton; Jason Hanson, Animal Science major at North Dakota State, Britton; David Reis, cow/calf producer from Reliance; and Steve Harwood, cattle producer, Union Center. Doug Sombke was elected to serve a sixth term.

“We’re a century strong. We have a strong history. We have accomplished a lot, and have a lot to be proud of as an organization. Just look back on 2015; we got redistricting on the ballot, cooperatives across South Dakota are letting their voices be heard on the CHS redistricting, our membership is at a 20-year high and we have a resurgence of young farmers, ranchers and youth eager to become involved in South Dakota Farmers Union,” Sombke says.

“Our future looks bright!”

Conde farmer, Doug Sombke was elected by the members of South Dakota Farmers Union to serve a sixth term during the organization’s centennial convention held in Huron Dec.9 and 10, 2015.

Nearly 500 members turned out to celebrate a century of service during the Centennial Convention held Dec. 9-10, 2015, in Huron. Pictured here are the 2015 South Dakota Farmers Union Torchbearers: (Left to Right) Tess Heidenreich, Faulkton; Courtney Edgar, Orient; Jeana Nuss, Tripp; Brandi Enright, Union Center; Shannon Meyer, Wilmot; Jordyn Temple, Clark; Dowain Kerner, Gregory; Dylan Hyronimus, Worthing; Jesse Carlson, Seneca; Windsor Barry, Carter; and Kadden Kummer, Parkston

Members from Sunshine Bible Academy FFA Chapter came out to hear Temple Grandin speak. Left to Right: Madison Huff, Gillette, Wyo.; Sierra Young, Onida; and Samantha Rogers, Ree Heights.

Last Modified: 12/23/2015 9:51:12 am MST